#SPINE2019 | Thursday 7 March – Saturday 16 March 2019
Libraries are creative spaces.
In 2019, SPINE Festival ran in 17 boroughs across London between 7 – 16 March.
Produced by Apples and Snakes, SPINE 2019 is a multi-disciplinary arts festival giving young people the chance to engage with workshops and live performances for free at their local library.
The theme of 2019’s festival was teen wellbeing. The festival celebrated creativity and community across the capital.
Bexley • Brent • Bromley • Croydon • Ealing • Islington • Hammersmith & Fulham • Hounslow • Kensington & Chelsea • Kingston • Lewisham • Merton • Newham • Southwark • Sutton • Tower Hamlets • Westminster
Artistic Residencies
There were ten multi-talented artists who were in residence in 5 different libraries around London.
Alex Godwin (aka Billy) a visual artist with a passion for colour, Theresa Lola a British Nigerian Poet and facilitator. The pair were Artists in Residence at Shepherds Bush Library.
Antonia Attwood a photographer and Katie Greenall a facilitator, theatre maker and spoken word artist were Artists in Residence at Sutton Central Library.
Emma McGordon an award winning spoken word artist and Cherilyn Yeates a visual artist and youth arts development officer were Artists in Residence at Wimbledon Library.
Irina Richards a comic artist/illustrator and Rue Gumbochuma a Zimbabwe born – Berkshire raised writer and storyteller were Artists in Residence at Downham Library.
Poet Yomi Ṣode, a Nigerian British writer, performer and facilitator and Linnéa Havilland an illustrator and animator were Artists in Residence at Peckham Library.
Crowded: Library Based Poetic Theatre Show Created especially for SPINE 2019
How do you sort your head out when it gets too crowded in there?
As part of #SPINE2019 Apples and Snakes and Half Moon Theatre created Crowded, a spoken word theatre show for youth audiences which toured 17 London Boroughs in March 2019.
Crowded tells the story of ordinary young people whose mental health leads to harmful and destructive behaviours. It gives voice to emotions that are often unspoken and is delivered through powerful, funny and uncompromising performances. It is written and performed by three exciting poet performers: Desree, Laura Rae and Slam the Poet, with additional text by Rosemary Harris.
